Pipe preconditioner



Nov. 17, 1953 H. B. GRow PIPE PRECONDITIONER Filed March '15 1949 IN V EN TOR. Harlow. 6'1'0 W.

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE PRECONDITIONER Harlow B. Grow, Linden, Mo.

Application March 15, 1949, Serial No. 81,545

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel appliance facilitating the pre-conditioning or breaking-in of smoking pipes or of similar smoking devices by the future user thereof.

When a new or freshly reamed-out smoking pipe is being used, the smoker experiences a rather unpleasant, olf-taste smoke, usually accompanied by a harsh burning sensation while consuming the first two or three bowlfuls, whereafter the pipe gradually becomes mellow, and finally sweet In some stores one can buy a mechanically Pre-Smoked pipe, but a pipe smoker prefers to break in his pipes himself.

The present invention has for its prime object the provision of an appliance which will permit any pipe smoker to break in his own pipes Without subjecting his mouth and throat to the irritation and unpleasant taste of such procedure.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a pre-conditioning device which may be readily associated with most any existing pipe body by removing the pipe stem and temporarily replacing it by the device for the duration of breaking in a pipe bowl, and which device is based on the principle of an aspirator and is so arranged that when air is blown into the device, such air will pass outwardly and in so doing will draw smokemixed air from the bowl of a pipe and eject it at a point where the device is temporarily attached tothe pipe in place of a pipe stem.

The foregoing general and other specific objects and other important advantages of the present invention will become more fully understood from the ensuing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a few of the presently preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein:

Fig. 1 represents a vertical cross section through one form of the present invention as applied to an existing pipe;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2--2 through Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 through Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. illustrates a modied form of a pipe preconditioning device;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end view of an air deflector as used in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, when looking in the direction of line 5-5 of that ligure;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section through another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through a modified form of an air deflector that may be employed;

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section through still another embodiment of the present invention, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmental vertical cross section through an additional modification of the device similar to that shown in Fig. 6 and employing a deector seen in Figs. 7 and 8.

In Fig. l numeral Ill indicates a smoking pipe having a bowl portion II and a shank or stemattaching portion l2. The latter is usually provided with a passage I3 entering the bowl and a preferably conical recess I 4, forming a continuation of passage I3, and serving for the insertion thereinto of the tapered end of a pipe stem.

The pre-conditioning device shown in Fig. 1 comprises a tubular member I5 in the form of a pipe stem, at one end of which is a mouthpiece I6, while the other end is offset at Il. Associated with offset end Il is an aspirator structure comprising a cylindrical formation I8 terminating in an outwardly flaring, funnel-shaped outlet I9. Within cylinder I8 and outlet I 9, and spaced from both, there is a substantially conical member 20 provided with a throughpassage 2I which is aligned with the bore of stem I5. The spacing between conical member 20 and the ilared outlet I9 is accomplished by spaced radial ribs 22 extending between the outer surface of conical member 20 and the interior surface of outlet I9.

At the apex of conical member 20, which preferably terminates in a tubular formation 20', there is provided a substantially cup-shaped air deiiecting element 23 Which is supported by a perforated ring 24 formed within the interior wall of cylinder I8.

The exterior end 20 of conical member 20 is offset and tapered for engagement with the tapered interior of stem-attaching portion I2. It will be observed that bore 25 of stem I 5 is widened at 25 in the vicinity of air deflecting cup 23 so that air may flow readily past the cup and outwardly through ared outlet I9.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified construction of the device, in which is again employed a stem I 5 provided at one end with a mouthpiece I6 while its other end is reduced at I1. The aspirator structure constitutes a substantially cylindrical member I8', which is offset at 21 to form a reduced portion 28 which terminates in a flared outlet 29.

Projecting through said outlet into reduced cylindrical portion 28 is a conical member 30 having a tapered extension 3l adapted for engagement with the stem-engaging recess of a pipe. Conical member 30 is provided again with a through passage 32 and is spaced from outlet 29 by radial ribs 33. The apex of conical member 3U has a tubular terminus which extends into the reduced cylindrical portion 28 and is surrounded by an air deflecting` cup 34, held in place by a disc-shaped, perforated support or plate 35 which is removably seated against a shoulder formed by recess S6 provided in the larger cylindrical portion of member I8'. Pipe stem I5 again is provided with a bore 25 which f ber and outlet 39.

3 is conically enlarged at 26 in the vicinity of air defiector 34.

The devices shown in Figs. 1 to 4 are very similar to one another with the exception that cup-shaped air detlector 23 in Fig. 1 is fixedly held within cylindrical structure I8, whereas in the modied form shown in Fig. 4 the cup 34 may be readily removed, whereby the entire device may be easily cleaned.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 discloses a simplied form of a pipe pre-conditioning appliance. hollow, one-piece stem structure provided with a mouthpiece 31 at one end. From that end the stem body and its hollow interior becomes gradually enlarged and forms a cylindrical portion 38 terminating in a funnel-shaped air outlet 39. Within that outlet there is removably held conical member 40 which again has a throughpassage 4| and a tapered pipe-engaging extension 42.

Conical member 40 is provided with radial ribs 43 which form spacers between the conical mem- These ribs are integral with conical member 40 so that the latter may be readily disassociated from stem structure 36".

The reduced apex of conical member 40 terminates in a tubular portion, the end of which is surrounded by a cup-shaped air-deflector element 44. Said element is held in spaced relation in respect to the tubular apex portion by ribs extending from the element. Conical member 48 may be withdrawn together with air-deflector element 44 from stem structure 35" for purposes of cleaning, and when thus withdrawn, deflector 44 may be removed.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 10 is shown a modified form of a cup-shaped air-deector 45, provided at its cylindrical exterior with spacing ribs 41 intended to engage the interior of cylindrical portion 38. Spacing ribs 41 are designed to center cup 45 within cylindrical portion 38 of the stem structure, as is evident from Fig. 10. Ribs 45 projecting from the tubular apex portion of conical member 40 now engage the interior surface of centered cup 45, whereby conical member 40 becomes aligned with the hollow interior of the stem structure.

The modified embodiment of the device shown in Fig. 9 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6. There is again employed a stem structure 36' having a mouthpiece 31 and a cylindrical portion 3l' and a haring outlet 39. A cone-shaped member 40 extends into outlet 39', and its cylindrical apex end 48 projects into cylindrical portion 38. Conical member 40 has the usual throughpassage 4i' and a tapered extension 42. The radial spacing ribs 43 extending from conical member 40' are longer than ribs 43 shown in Fig. 6, and extend over cylindrical apex portion 48, as at 49, where they are offset at 50 and form supports for cup-shaped air deflector 5|. The latter is rendered readily removable when conical member 4l is withdrawn from the ared end 39' of the stem structure.

Operation All of the devices presented in the drawings are intended to temporarily replace regular pipe stems supplied with smoking pipes. In order to facilitate such temporary exchange, the conical In that figure numeral 36" denotes a Now air is blown through the tubular member or stem structures in the direction indicated by arrow I. That air passes over the deflector cup and progresses between the cup and the cylindrical stem portion surrounding it, and is discharged outwardly through the flaring outlet.

As the air, entering through the mouthpiece, progresses in one direction toward the pipe bowl and passes the deiiector cup on its way out through the flaring outlet, smoke-mixed air is drawn from the pipe in the opposite direction through the passage provided in the conical member and is deflected by the cup surrounding the apex of the conical member and is forced into and is mixed with the air stream escaping through the flaring outlet.

In this manner a pipe can be readily pre-conditioned by the owner until it is broken in sufliciently to assure a clean, sweet smoke, without subjecting him to the unpleasant eiects of the heretofore usual procedure of breaking in new or freshly reamed pipes. After the pre-conditioning operation, which usually takes 2 or 3 bowlfuls, the present device is removed and the regular pipe stem is inserted into the pipe body for normal smoking purposes.

While in the foregoing specific structures of the present invention were described, all of these structures are based on the same principle of an aspirator whereby air under pressure is injected in one direction, to draw smoke-mixed air in the opposite direction and to deflect such drawn air to travel outwardly in substantially the direction of the injected air.

In the specification and in the annexed claims the expression smoke-mixed air" is being used. That term refers to the mixture of smoke and air that ows from the bowl of the pipe through the passage of the conical member. That smokemixed air additionally mixes with air flowing through the mouthpiece. This second mixture of air and smoke-mixed air iiows outwardly through the passage of the flaring outlet, such as shown at I9 in Fig. l.

Ihe five modifications illustrated in the drawings and described herein clearly indicate that changes and improvements may be readily incorporated in the device, for which reason such changes and improvements are to be considered to lie within the scope of the present invention as defined in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a pipe pre-conditioning appliance o! an aspirator construction, means for conveying air in one direction, said means comprising a tubular member, resembling a pipe stem, and having a mouthpiece at one end, other means in cooperation with and located at the other end of the tubular member for drawing a mixture of smoke and air in the opposite direction and for discharging it in substantially that one direction, said other means compri-sing a substantially conical body having a central passage, the apex oi' that body being directed towards said mouthpiece, a cup-like element spaced from and surrounding the apex, and said conical body having an extension for engagement with the shank of a pipe in place of an usual pipe stem.

2. In a pipe pre-conditioning appliance, a hollow tubular member having a mouthpiece at one end, an aspirator structure at the other end, said structure comprising a substantially tubular body constituting a continuation of said other end of the tubular member and terminating in an outwardly flared funnel. a substantially conical member extending into and being spaced from said funnel and having a central through passage, the apex of the conical member being directed toward the mouthpiece of the tubular member, and a cup element surrounding and being spaced from said apex and from said funnel, the interior at the end of the tubular member adjacent to cup element being suii ciently enlarged to facilitate the passage of air about said cup element and through the space between the funnel and said conical member outwardly, whereby a mixture of smoke and air is drawn by way of said through passage of the conical member into and out of said cup element, to be ejected with the air flowing through the space between the funnel and the conical member, the latter member terminating in a tip for engagement with a pipe shank in place of an usual pipe stem.

3. In a pre-conditioning appliance, an aspirator structure adapted for removable association with a smoking pipe and the like, said structure comprising a tubular member having a mouthpiece at one end and a conically flared outlet at the other end, a substantially conical member having a through passage extending concentrically into and being spaced from said flared outlet and having an extension for connecting it with a shank of a pipe, a deflector for a mixture of smoke and air at the apex of the conical member and being spaced from the latter and from said tubular member.

4'. In a device of the class indicated, a tubular member having a mouthpiece at one end, an aspirator structure at its other end, said structure i comprising a cylindrical portion forming a continuation of said tubular member and having an outwardly flaring air outlet; a substantially conical member spaced from and held within the latter and having a through passage, and a deiiector for a mixture of smoke and air surrounding the apex of the conical member and being spaced therefrom and from said cylindrical portion.

5. In a device of the class indicated, a tubular member having a mouthpiece at one end, the other end being offset, an aspirator structure for removable association with said tubular member and comprising a substantially cylindrical portion engaged by said oifset end of the tubular member, a flaring outlet forming a continuation of the cylindrical portion, a substantially conical formation being spaced from and extending into the outlet and having a through passage and a reduced end, the latter serving for removably securing the aspirator structure to a pipe, a cupshaped deflector for a mixture of smoke and air surrounding the apex of said conical formation and being spaced from the latter and from said tubular member.

6. In a device as per claim 5, said Icylindrical portion having annular seat, and a perforated plate resting in said seat and supporting said smoked-mixed air deector.

7. In a device of the class indicated, a tubular member having a mouthpiece at one end, its other end comprising a cylindrical portion terminating in a cone-shaped outlet, a substantially conical formation extending through said outlet into said tubular member and being spaced from both said outlet and said cylindrical portion and having a through passage and an attaching end for engagement with a pipe, and a cup-shaped deflector for smoked-mixed air at the apex of the conical formation and being spaced from the apex and from the tubular member.

8. In a device as per claim 7, said conical formation having spacing ribs adapted for engagement with the interior surface of said tubular member.

9. In a device as per claim 7, said conical formation having spacing ribs for engagement with the interior outlet surface of the tubular member, said ribs being oifset at the apex of the conical formation and supporting said deflector for smoked-mixed air.

10. In a pipe pre-conditioning appliance, a stem-like structure adapted for removable association with the shank of a pipe in place of a pipe stem, an aspirator assembly removably associated therewith and being disposed within the structure and having a shank-engaging end, and comprising means for conveying air in one direction, and other means in cooperation with the first means for drawing a mixture of smoke and air in the opposite direction and for discharging it in substantially said one direction, said assembly including 9, cup-shaped defleotor for smoked-mixed air having its open end directed toward the pipe bowl.

l1. A pre-conditioning appliance for pipes and the like adapted for removable association with an existing pipe shank in place of a pipe stem, an aspirator structure comprising means for conveying air under pressure in one direction, other means for conveying smoke-mixed air in the opposide direction, and substantially cupshaped third means interposed between the mst-stated means and said other means for dei'iecting smoke-mixed air from said other means into the stream of air passing through and outwardiy in respect to said first-stated means, thus causing the smoke-mixed air to i'low in said one direction, the open end of said cup-shaped third means being directed toward the pipe bowl.

12. A pipe pre-conditioning appliance comprising a pipe stem-like structure provided with a mouthpiece and having an aspirator assembly removably associated therewith so that the latter assumes a position in close proximity to the pipe shank, said aspirator assembly including a substantially cup-shaped deflecting element for smoked-mixed air, said cup-shaped element having a convex surface facing toward the mouthpiece.

HARLOW B. GROW.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 31,863 Boeklen et al. Apr. 2, 1861 277,072 Sherriff May 8, 1883 279,269 Norwood June 12, 1883 280,733 Fulton July 3, 1883 837,917 Colcord Dec. 11, 1906 1,168,297 Gibson Jan. 18, 1916 1,263,845 Broman Apr. 23, 1918 2,128,170 Stull Aug. 23, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,491 Great Britain of 1887 OTHER REFERENCES Linkman & Co. Trade-Mark No. 501,458, Aug. 10, 1948. 

